Manipur violence: Thousands show up for peace rally at Silchar

Our Correspondent
JIRIBAM, May 25: Around five thousand people stepped out of their homes to take part in a peace rally flagged off from Vir Tikendrajit ME School, Manipuri Leikai, Itkhola, Silchar and culminating at DC Office, Silchar.
The rally was organised by numerous Assam-based organisations including All Assam Manipuri Youth Association (AAMYA), All Assam Manipuri Women Meira Paibi Coordination Committee, Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha and All Assam Manipuri Muslim Meira Paibi in connection with the  ongoing crisis in Manipur.
The rally goers also handed over a memorandum to Cachar DC Rohan Kumar Jha, IAS to be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Among other things, the memorandum appeals for air action in Manipur.
Calling for an end to the violence, Ksh Kundal, chief advisor, AAMYA questioned why this has not been accomplished despite the presence of thousands of armed security forces.  
Asserting that they do not place any blame on innocent Kuki civilians, he strongly condemned Kuki militants, narco terrorists and supporters of poppy cultivation and violence. The AAMYA chief advisor also appealed for the indigenous displaced families from Moreh, Churachandpur etc to be safely sent back to their homes.
Saying that the Mizoram Government should not interfere in the internal affairs of Manipur, he further condemned the stance taken by Mizoram Government on the matter.
"The integrity of Manipur must be protected and those involved in large scale unlawful deforestation must be punished", he added.
The rallyists held many placards with messages of "AAMYA demands peace in Manipur", "Punish the perpetrators of Manipur violence", "Mizoram don't play game of blood", "Save Manipur", "NBMM demands peace, Peace in Manipur", "Meetei by birth", "Down down down poppy cultivation narco- terrorism" etc.